Inquiry and Chain Reaction in Slovakia

2019 ◽  
pp. 157-167
Author(s):  
Janka Raganova ◽  
Stanislav Holec ◽  
Martin Hruska ◽  
Miriam Spodniakova Pfefferova
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
School Students ◽  
Teacher Trainees ◽  
Science Projects ◽  
Training Courses ◽  
The Impact

The chapter presents how the Chain Reaction project was implemented in the context of science education in Slovakia. The educational reform highlighted inquiry as a leading approach in science education. But teachers were not prepared for implementation of such approaches. There was a lack of resources and a strong time pressure caused by a reduced number of science subjects lessons. Students' motivation to do and to study science was weak. Thus, the project team from Matej Bel University Banska Bystrica concentrated on two main issues: gaining teachers' engagement in non-traditional ways of science subjects teaching and motivating students to put their effort into inquiry-based science projects. The main problems connected with delivery of the Chain Reaction approaches in Slovak schools are discussed and the impact on secondary school students, science teachers, and teacher trainees is demonstrated. The developed pre- and in-service teacher training courses will serve as a tool of sustainability of the inquiry-based approaches in science education in Slovakia.

scholarly journals Obstacles That Limit the Implementation of STEM Approach in Science Education from Teachers’ Point View: معوقات تطبيق منحى STEM في تدريس العلوم من وجهة نظر المعلمين في سلطنة عمان

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaher Rebhi Elayyan, Yousuf Obaid Al-Mazroi'
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Intensive Training ◽  
Training Courses ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Impact

The current study aims to reveal the obstacles that limit the implementation of STEM integrated approach in science education in Sultanate of Oman, and investigate the impact of gender variable in exisestance of these obstacles. To achieve the aims of the study, the descriptive approach was used and a questionnaire as a data collection tool which is divided into three parts: obstacles related to the teachers in implementing STEM that included 13 items, obstacles related to the learning environment that included 11 items, and obstacles related to the content that included 12 items. After verifying the validity and reliability, the questionnaire was applied to the sample which was chosen purposively and consisted of 117 science teachers have a training to apply STEM in their schools. The findings showed the degree of obstacles lies between high to medium. The third part (obstacles related to content) ranked first with an average of 3.51 with a high degree, followed by the second part (obstacles related to the learning environment) in the second rank with an average of 3.31 with a medium degree, and finally the first part (obstacles related to the teacher) with an average of 2.77 and medium degree. Also, there were no statistical significance between averages due to the variable of gender (male/female). In the light of these findings, the study recommends that the science curricula should be developed through STEM approach. Also, supporting classrooms with materials and tools that help students to apply lessons according to STEM, and developing the performance of science teachers by providing intensive training courses on the ideal application of STEM in teaching science.

Enhancing the Performance of Secondary School Students in Agricultural Science for Food Security in Ebonyi State.

2019 ◽  
pp. 113-121
Author(s):  
Aneke C.U. ◽  
Nwankwegu Simeon A.
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Agricultural Science ◽  
School Students ◽  
Response Options ◽  
Proper Training ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Strongly Agree

This study was set to determine the strategies for enhancing the performance of secondary school students in agricultural science for food security in Ebonyi State. A survey research design was adopted with a population of 53 respondents (14 male and 39 female agricultural science teachers) sampled purposively from 48 secondary schools in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The instrument for data collection was a structured 4-point weighted 21-item questionnaire developed by the researcher sectioned A and B with response options of Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Disagree (DA) and Strongly Disagree (SD) after intensive literature review and the numerical values of 4, 3, 2 & 1 was assigned to the instrument respectively. The instrument was validated by three research experts while the reliability index of 0.77 was established using Cronbach Alpha reliability estimate. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the two research questions while t-test was used to test the two null hypotheses at .05 level of significance and appropriate degree of freedom. Some of the findings among others include that teachers can enhance the performance of secondary school students in agricultural science for food security in Ebonyi State. It was therefore recommended that facilities should be made available for proper training of secondary school students for productivity on graduation and as well for food security in Ebonyi State.

scholarly journals Comparison on Well-Being, Engagement and Perceived School Climate in Secondary School Students with Learning Difficulties and Specific Learning Disorders: An Exploratory Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Lombardi ◽  
Daniela Traficante ◽  
Roberta Bettoni ◽  
Ilaria Offredi ◽  
Mirta Vernice ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Learning Difficulties ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Learning Disorder ◽  
School Students ◽  
Specific Learning Disorder ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Specific Learning

Reading and writing skills influence the social status of students, exerting effects not only on learning, but also on wellbeing. This study aimed to assess the impact of diagnosis of specific learning disorder on well-being in secondary-school students, comparing students with a diagnosis of specific learning disorder (SLD-group), students showing learning difficulties without diagnosis (LD-group) and students without learning difficulties (control-group). Students were tested with neuropsychological screening tests in order to identify learning difficulties and were further assessed by means of psychological and school well-being questionnaires. The results show that LD group perceive themselves as having a low sense of mastery and autonomy, less interest and engagement in daily activities and low peer social support than their schoolmates. This result highlights, for the LD group, a low well-being experience, which is not observed in the SLD and control groups. On the contrary, SLD group students do not differ from control group students in any dimensions except for the perceived parents’ support and involvement in school life, in which the SLD group show the highest scores. This work underlines the importance of having a diagnosis as it seems to work as a protective factor for both the psychological and school well-being of the student.

Impact of Collaborative Learning Strategies on Social Maturity of Secondary School Students

2021 ◽  
pp. 249-259
Author(s):  
J. N. Baliya ◽  
Shivani Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Traditional Learning ◽  
Critical Ratio ◽  
School Students ◽  
Social Maturity ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this research was to study the impact of collaborative learning strategies on social maturity and its various dimensions viz. personal adequacy, interpersonal adequacy, and social adequacy, of secondary school students. The study was quasiexperimental and used matched pairs pre-test post-test research design. A Higher Secondary School in Educational Zone Hiranagar of District Kathua was chosen for the intervention. The study was conducted on sixty-six students of two sections of class 9th. Two sections were randomly assigned to collaborative and traditional learning conditions. Four methods of collaborative learning viz. Think-Pair-Share, Numbered Heads Together, Jigsaw, and Fish-Bowl were used for a period of over five weeks. The results were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and a critical ratio (CR). The results of the study showed that this approach was successful in increasing personal adequacy, interpersonal adequacy, social adequacy and overall social maturity of secondary school students.

Making Science Homework Work: The Perspectives of Exemplary African American Science Teachers

2012 ◽  
Vol 114 (7) ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Jianzhong Xu ◽  
Linda T. Coats ◽  
Mary L. Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
African American ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
African American Students ◽  
School Students ◽  
African American Teachers ◽  
Persistent Problem ◽  
American Science ◽  
American Students

Background/Context Despite the best intentions to close the achievement gap, the under-achievement of African American students in science is a persistent problem. It is surprising to note, however, that research on science education has often failed to consider students’ cultural diversity as it relates to science education. On the few occasions when efforts were made to link science disciplines and students’ cultural backgrounds, these studies were largely limited to classroom learning environments. Purpose/Research Question This study examines the perspectives of exemplary African American teachers toward science homework. Specifically, we address two research questions: What does science homework mean to exemplary African American science teachers? How do they approach science homework? Research Design A qualitative study was conducted, with data obtained from the following sources: (a) three open-ended, in-depth interviews with each exemplary teacher during the first year of the study, and (b) two focus group interviews with these teachers during the second year of the study. The participants were 8 exemplary African American science teachers in Grades 3–6 in the southeastern United States. Findings/Results Data revealed that these teachers shared a strong sense of urgency to use homework as an important vehicle in science learning. To help their students be successful with their homework, these teachers often provided additional provisions and used a variety of strategies to promote students’ interest in their homework. In addition, the teachers adapted an approach comparable to both Boykin's Afrocultural ethos (e.g., concerned with affect, expressive individualism, and verve) and “being a warm demander” (i.e., setting high expectations and insisting firmly yet respectfully that students meet those expectations). Conclusions These findings suggest that there is merit in integrating these two frameworks to better understand the perspectives of exemplary African American teachers toward science homework. These findings highlight the need to examine the perspectives of exemplary African American teachers toward secondary school science homework given that the poor achievement of African American students becomes more pronounced as they progress through school, and homework is found to be more strongly associated with secondary school students than elementary school students.

scholarly journals Impact of Cognitive Restructuring and Token Economy Techniques on Truancy Reduction among Secondary School Students in Lagos State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-32
Author(s):  
Afolasade Airat Sulaiman ◽  
Stella Ihuoma Uhuegbu
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Cognitive Restructuring ◽  
Token Economy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
School Students ◽  
Control Group Design ◽  
Lagos State ◽  
The Impact

This study examined the impact of cognitive restructuring and token economy techniques on the reduction of truancy among secondary school students in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study adopted a pre-test, post-test, control group design with a multistage sampling technique as the sampling method. Judgmental sampling technique was used to select two from the six Education Districts in Lagos State, simple random sampling technique was adopted to select six schools; three schools from each of the two Education Districts and 170 truants out of the 216 randomly selected based on the class attendance register completed the study. Truancy Behaviour Questionnaire (TBQ) with a reliability index of .87 was the instrument for the study. Data were analysed and presented with descriptive and ANOVA statistics at .05 level of significance. Findings showed that the two techniques were effective for the reduction of truancy but the token economy technique had a better effect. Sex had no significant effect on the reduction of truancy but females play truants more than males. Based on the findings, the token economy therapy was recommended as an ideal technique for counselling and guiding students against truancy.

scholarly journals An assessment of the impact of improvised versus conventional laboratory equipment on students’ performance in thermal expansion

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-140
Author(s):  
Kizito Ndihokubwayo ◽  
Jean Uwamahoro ◽  
Irénée Ndayambaje
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Expansion ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Test Design ◽  
Lower Secondary School ◽  
School Students ◽  
Laboratory Equipment ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Impact

Science education in Rwandan schools still faces a number of challenges including the lack or shortage of equipment available for science experiments. This paper describes research conducted to assess the impact of using improvised versus conventional laboratory equipment in experiments. Eighty-five lower secondary school students were assessed using a semi-experimental post-test design on thermal expansion of bodies. Data analysis using a t-test produced a t-Stat of 2.74 over a t-Critical of 1.98 indicating a statistical significance between the two experimental groups in favour of the group using improvised equipment. As a result, it is recommended that improvised equipment be used in those instances in which there is a lack or shortage of conventional equipment since students’ achievement was similar regardless of the type of equipment used.

scholarly journals Difficulties of Teaching Scientific Concepts among Basic Students from the Point of View of Science Teachers in Irbid Governorate: صعوبات تدريس المفاهيم العلمية لدى طلبة المرحلة الأساسية من وجهة نظر معلمي العلوم في محافظة إربد

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoda Atemah Al-Masry
Keyword(s):  
Science Teachers ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Scientific Concepts ◽  
Curriculum Content ◽  
Educational Qualification ◽  
Basic Stage ◽  
Training Courses ◽  
Level Of Significance ◽  
The Impact

This study aimed to investigate the difficulties of teaching scientific concepts among students of the basic stage from the point of view of science teachers in Irbid governorate through applying to a sample of (56) teachers. And. A study tool has been developed consisting of (24) paragraphs, each of which represents one of the difficulties of learning the concept. The tool has been verified and verified. The study reached the following results: The difficulties of learning scientific concepts were moderate, and there were no statistically significant differences at the level of significance ( = 0.05) in the difficulties of learning scientific concepts from the point of view of science teachers attributed to the impact of sex and educational qualification. The researcher recommended a number of recommendations, the most important of which were: Reviewing the content of science books so that the number of scientific concepts contained in the curriculum content is reduced in order not to overwork the student by memorizing a large number of scientific concepts, and holding training courses for science teachers in order to train them on how to choose methods Appropriate teaching to teach scientific concepts.

Entrepreneurship Program at Secondary School

2019 ◽  
pp. 202-217
Author(s):  
Maria Jose Madeira ◽  
Andreia Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Extracurricular Activities ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Secondary Level ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
School Students ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this study is the analysis of the effect that the entrepreneurship activities have in the development of an entrepreneurial profile of the students of a secondary level and their future entrepreneurial intentions. To empirically test the formulated hypothesis, a questionnaire was developed. By the application of methods of factorial analysis and a logistic regression model, it was concluded that variables like the incentive given by school agents, the participation of students in extracurricular activities and the desire to continue studying, influenced the entrepreneurial intentions of the students. Concerning the entrepreneurial profile, it was concluded that the students who have higher capacity of creation and concretization of entrepreneurial projects and a winning will, have a higher propensity to create their own business. This research analysed the impact of entrepreneurship activities on the development of the secondary school students' entrepreneurial profile, and understand whether these same activities influence their future intentions.

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